Rail-retaining device



Nov. 23, 1937. R. T. WOODINGS 2,099,786-

RAIL RETAINING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1956 INVENTO WITNESSES.

Z W a Ma ATTORNEY5,

Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQE RAIL-RETAHNING DEVICE Application October 2,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to retaining devices for railroad rails and has among its objects the provision of such devices which are simple and inexpensive in construction, with which a rail can be quickly, easily, and securely fastened to an ordinary cross tie, or the like. The device also serves as a creep check, and any tendency of the rail to creep tightens the connection between it and the retaining device.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the web of a rail showing the rail base and retaining device in plan; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through the rail and retaining device; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line III--III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the rail clip forming a part of the retaining device; and Fig. 5 is an end view thereof.

In the preferred form of this invention, a tie plate is provided with a substantially vertical slot therethrough extending along one edge of the base of a rail seated on the plate. The bottom of the tie plate is provided below the rail with a recess opening into the side of the slot and extending under the rail seat. A substantially U- shape fastening member extends through the slot with its upper arm engaging the top of the rail base and its lower arm disposed in the tie plate recess in engagement with the upper wall thereof. These arms are distorted or sprung away from each other by movement to transverse position of the rail base and tie plate, whereby the rail and plate are clamped together. By the same movement the lower arm is moved to abutment against an end wall of the recess and so prevents the fastening member from being turned further in that direction.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a tie plate I, mounted on a cross tie 2 in the usual manner, is provided on its upper surface with two spaced parallel ribs 3 extending transversely thereof and forming integral shoulders that define a rail seat and prevent lateral movement of the rail base 4 mounted on the seat between them. In order to hold the rail down on its seat in accordance with this invention, the tie plate is provided at each side of the rail base with a substantially vertical slot 6 extending through the rib as well as the plate, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The slot extends longitudinally of the rib, and the bottom of the tie plate is provided below the rail seat with a recess 1 opening into the side of the adjacent slot, as shown in Fig. 2.

Disposed in each slot is a metal fastening mem- 1936, Serial No. 103,744

ber or clip I l of substantially U-shape, made from a rod bent to shape, and preferably having one arm longer than the other. The base of the U extends vertically through one of the slots, see Fig. 2, and the longer upper arm extends transversely of the top of the rail base which it engages. The shorter lower arm of the clip extends into the recess 1 adjoining the slot where it engages the upper wall of the recess so that the rail base and a portion of the tie plate are clamped together between the two arms of the clip.

The clip is inserted in the slot, which is not much wider than the clip, by turning its lower arm into alignment with the slot so that it can be slid down through it. The clip is then turned by hand until its upper arm engages the top of the rail base near its edge and its lower arm is disposed beneath the edge of the upper wall of recess 1. The upper arm may then be driven by a spike maul or the like through an arc of approximately 90, forcing it up on the rail base, to transverse position thereon. At the same time the lower arm is swung into the recess to the same extent. As the upper arm is thus driven on the rail base it at first draws the lower arm tightly against the upper wall of the tie plate recess, and then the two arms are progressively distorted, being sprung apart by riding on the inclined face of the rail base, causing the clip to clamp the rail securely to the plate.

The rail and tie plate engaging surfaces l2 of the clips arms preferably are flattened, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide increased areas of contact with the rail and plate, whereby there is increased frictional engagement between them which checks rail creep better than a line contact. Furthermore, any tendency of the rail to creep across the tie plate will tend to cant the rail clips and thereby force the edges of their flattened areas more tightly against the rail base and tie plate.

Another feature of this invention is that any tendency of the rail to creep across the tie plate will not carry the inner ends of the upper arms of the clips along with the rail and cause them to swing and loosen their grip on the rail and plate, because the lower arm of the clip is in engagement with the end wall of the tie plate recess, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This prevents any turning of the clip in that direction. Furthermore, contact of the lower arm of the clip with an end wall of recess i when the clip is being driven onto the rail base insures proper positioning of the clip and prevents the arms from being swung too far.

With this type of rail-retaining device the rail is fastened to the tie plate and anchored against creeping by the same fastening members. By providing the tie plate with recesses for receiving the lower arms of the clips, the retaining device becomes self-contained and the tie plate shown can be used with any ordinary wooden, metal, or concrete cross tie without having to alter the tie in any way. 1 7

According to the provisions of the patent statutes I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment.- However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention 'may be'practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described. j

I claim: a a A rail-retaining device comprising atie plate having a rib extending longitudinally of one edge of the rail base and constituting a shoulder for holding the rail against lateral movement in that from a rod and extending through said slot with' 7 its upper arm engaging the top of the rail base and its lower arm disposed in said tie plate recess in engagement with the upper wall thereof, said arms being sprung away from each other by the rail base and tie plate whereby the rail and tie plate are resiliently clamped together, and

said lower arm being disposed against an end wall of said recess to prevent the clip from being further turned in that direction, said clip being capable of insertion through said slot only when its arms extend substantially longitudinally of the slot, and the rail and tie plate engaging surfaces of said arms being flattened. 7

ROBERT 'r. WOODINV'G'S. 

